late Middle English (in the sense 'duration or course [of time]'): from Latin tractus 'drawing, draught', from trahere 'draw, pull'late Middle English (denoting a written work treating a particular topic), apparently an abbreviation of Latin tractatus (see tractate). The current sense dates from the early 19th centlate Middle English: from medieval Latin tractus (cantus) 'drawn-out (song'), past participle of Latin trahere 'draw'
